On July 13, three tunnels were bombed. Israel falsely blamed them for "terrorist activity." Two Palestinians were missing after one of the tunnels collapsed. Later one body was recovered. Five or more other Palestinians were wounded.

On July 14, other targets were struck, wounding four Palestinian civilians.

On July 15, overnight attacks wounded four Palestinians, including two children. Over the weekend, other preemptive raids followed. Blaming the victims, a July 14 IDF statement said:

"The IDF will not tolerate any attempt to harm Israeli civilians, and will respond with determination to any attempt to use terror against the State of Israel. The IDF holds the Hamas terrorist organization solely responsible for any terrorist activity emanating from the Gaza Strip."

On July 15, a second attack occurred, crew members saying an Israeli gunboat indiscriminately used water cannons and live fire, including on 11 fishing boats in the area. As a result, nine vessels were badly damaged. In addition, the Oliva was too badly flooded to continue. Fishermen rescued its crew, then towed the boat to shore, pursued by Israel's navy to within one nautical mile of port.

On July 18, the Ethics Committee prevented her from addressing the Knesset or vote in committees through the end of the parliamentary season because she participated in Freedom Flotilla I.

Last July, other rights were lawlessly stripped, including her diplomatic passport, financial help, legal assistance, and right (Knesset members have) to travel freely to countries with no official ties to Israel.

At issue, is Zuabi's vocal criticism of Israeli policies. Last week, security officers forcefully removed her from the Knesset after interrupting Netanyahu's speech, defending the new anti-boycott bill. In fact, Knesset practice lets members interrupt, raising issues or voicing criticism. An Israeli Arab, Zuabi was denied her right to do so.

Departing on July 16, its 10 passengers "view themselves as (representing) the whole (FF II mission). The rest of the Flotilla's ships have been detained in different Greek ports, through bureaucratic obstruction, sabotage, sudden restrictions and withdrawals of flags."

Dignite, in fact, represents past and future missions. Saying "Gaza, we are coming," its message to Israel, Washington, and the international community is that initiatives won't stop until Gaza's illegal siege ends.

The Swedish/Norwegian/Greek MV Juliano also hopes to sail. So far, however, it's still blocked in the Greek island of Crete, per orders from Israel and Washington, determined to keep collectively punishing Gazan civilians illegally.

No wonder growing numbers of Israelis are voting with their feet and leaving. On July 15, hundreds of others joined with Palestinians (about 2,000 in total), marching in occupied East Jerusalem, calling for an independent Palestinian state. Among them were Hadash Party MK Dov Hanin and Meretz MK Zehava Galon.

Starting from East Jerusalem's Jaffa Gate, they followed the Green Line dividing East and West Jerusalem, ending at Sheikh Jarrah, a Palestinian neighborhood often attacked by Israeli settlers. In response, extremist Israelis tried to disrupt the march with an ineffective counter demonstration.

On July 15, Reuters writer Tom Perry headlined, "Settler violence against Palestinians up 57 percent in the West Bank," according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) saying:

Palestinian officials call it "a worrying sign of deepening hostility which they fear could trigger wider violence as hard-line settlers increasingly appear to be a law unto themselves...."

So far this year, settlers have stoned, run down, or shot at 178 Palestinians (killing three civilians), compared to 176 all last year. In response to Reuters' request, Israeli police and army officials provided no information regarding the scale of violence.

As a result, "(t)he role of Israeli security forces in dealing with settler violence is the focus of controversy." B'Tselem says they do little or nothing to protect Palestinians and their property. Even when arrested, settlers get lenient slaps on the wrist, freeing them to commit more violence with impunity.

At the same time, when Palestinians respond in self-defense, including by throwing stones, Israeli soldiers (if nearby) attack them with tear gas, rubber bullets, and at times live fire.

In Israel and Occupied Palestine, only Jews have rights. Arabs are denied them for being Muslims in a Jewish state, even on their own land.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.